Training Log Archive: SarahD

Tired and stiff

Arran Ultra Trail Scotland. Pissing rain overnight and still pretty grim by the morning. Got set for the go in 20’, handed in drop bag when DK appeared and told us the start had been delayed at least 2 hours.... no signs or info at registration, just a brief FB post - not impressed. Returned 2 hours later, still no written info or FB update but a modified map in the corner of the room showing a shortened route, avoiding the 2 most technical sections of ridge, and with a grim out and back drop down a 7km ridge to North Sannox . Eventually got started at 10:00 without ever being told anything about the route change - impressive.
Anyway all good once we finally got going and felt ok on the Goatfell climb, seemed to catch and pass quite a few on the more technical bits of descent, and kept going steady on up the Cir Mhor climb. Back down and up Castail Abhaill before starting the long descent to North Sannox. Starting to feel twinges of cramp so took it a bit carefully through the bog and down to the river crossing. River was well up (no surprise), stumbled slightly and my right adductor cramped in the middle of the stream. Managed to get onto a rock to try and ease it off only for some prat coming back the other way to point out that I was ‘blocking the route’. Offensive twat. Managed to get out the other side, had a bit of a quivery lip moment but then got back going again once onto better track down through the forest. Soon met KH coming back the other way as leading lady followed some while later by JS and a very smiley encouraging Debbie Consani - all good boosters. Short stop at the checkpoint before turning round and heading back up the hill again. Re-nogotiated the stream without further mishap and got into a good steady plod heading back up the hill. All good until most of the way back up Castail Abhaill when cramp started to kick in again and I knew it was going to be a recurring theme from then. Had to stop 3 times to ease it off and take it super carefully through the more technical bits. Still all good though and onto the final spur when I realised there were lots of people running around looking lost. Joined them in a bit of a headless run around looking for markers before having the sense to get my map out. Quickly realised we’d missed the turning off the spur in the cloud, so grabbed a compass off someone and took command to angle off down the hillside and try to rejoin the route. Thankfully worked ok but must have wasted 5’ or more in losing the route. Another bout of cramp and then a long slog through some bog before hitting the track / road back to Brodick. Disappointed to be passed on the road by another lady, but couldn’t do anything about it.
All in all 7.5 hours of full on technical running which was mentally as well as physically tough. Weather cleared up briefly for an hour in the middle, but otherwise a pretty Ming day stuck in the clag. Very happy in the end that the course had been shortened as the full circuit would have taken another 2.5 / 3 hours. Happy to survive and hopefully all good training towards PSR. Doesn’t seem to be any major body damage but going to take a good bit to recover. Awesome run from KH to finish close behind DM-C in the end.

C • Well done! 5

Short jog round the woods with J and E

Getting excited for the weekend :-)

Easy leg stretch at GT out towards ToE then back on river bank path.

Wouldn't normally plan to do quite so much volume the week before a long race, but not taking next w/e too seriously from a competitive perspective; more about experience, completion and training towards the PSR. Plenty of R+R planned for this week though.